Missing Software Distribution File on Windows Me

when I tried to access the windows update I got error message stating I had to be logged on as administrator. I rebooted and at the prompt (which I never used before) I typed in administrator and password and it asked me to confirm password, which I did.

I got the same message, so I Googled it and got this on the Microsoft website:
For users running Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER, expand Software, expand Microsoft, expand Windows, expand CurrentVersion, and then expand Policies.
3. If the Windows Update key exists, click Windows Update.
4. In the right pane, if the DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD value exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, and then click Delete.
5. Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER, expand Software, expand Microsoft, expand Windows, expand CurrentVersion, and then expand Policies.
6. If the Explorer key exists, click Explorer.
7. In the right pane, if a DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, and then click Delete.
8. In the right pane, if a NoWindowsUpdate DWORD value exists, right-click NoWindowsUpdate, and then click Delete.
9. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, expand Software, expand Microsoft, expand Windows, expand CurrentVersion, and then expand Policies.
10. If the Explorer key exists, click Explorer.
11. In the right pane, if a DisableWindowsUpdateAccess DWORD exists, right-click DisableWindowsUpdateAccess, and then click Delete.
12. In the right pane, if a NoWindowsUpdate DWORD value exists, right-click NoWindowsUpdate, and then click Delete.
13. Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer

My problem is - I get none of these in the right pane! I then looked at another related article and it tells me to rename the softwaredistribution folder, but I do not have one!

any help??????

Thanks so much!